Biological Networks In Human Health And Disease

This book presents methods and tools of network biology and bioinformatics for understanding the disease dynamics and identification of drug targets. The initial section of chapters introduce the theoretical aspects followed by the different applications for construction and analysis of biological networks, methods for identifying crucial nodes in networks, and network dynamics. The book covers the latest advances in the network medicine, exploring the different types of biological networks, and their applications. It further reviews the role of R language in the network-based approaches that help in understanding biological systems and identifying biological functions. Towards the end, the book explores the recent developments and applications in machine learning and its potential for advancing network biology. Finally, the book elucidates a comprehensive yet a representative description of challenges associated with the understanding of disease dynamics using network biology. Given its scope, the book is intended for researchers and advanced postgraduate students of bioinformatics, computational biology, and medical sciences. ​

This book presents methods and tools of network biology and bioinformatics for understanding the disease dynamics and identification of drug targets. The initial section of chapters introduce the theoretical aspects followed by the different applications for construction and analysis of biological networks, methods for identifying crucial nodes in networks, and network dynamics. The book covers the latest advances in the network medicine, exploring the different types of biological networks, and their applications. It further reviews the role of R language in the network-based approaches that help in understanding biological systems and identifying biological functions. Towards the end, the book explores the recent developments and applications in machine learning and its potential for advancing network biology. Finally, the book elucidates a comprehensive yet a representative description of challenges associated with the understanding of disease dynamics using network biology. Given its scope, the book is intended for researchers and advanced postgraduate students of bioinformatics, computational biology, and medical sciences. ​

Big data, genomics, and quantitative approaches to network-based analysis are combining to advance the frontiers of medicine as never before. With contributions from leading experts, Network Medicine introduces this rapidly evolving field of research, which promises to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases.

RNA-based Regulation in Human Health and Disease offers an in-depth exploration of RNA mediated genome regulation at different hierarchies. Beginning with multitude of canonical and non-canonical RNA populations, especially noncoding RNA in human physiology and evolution, further sections examine the various classes of RNAs (from small to large noncoding and extracellular RNAs), functional categories of RNA regulation (RNA-binding proteins, alternative splicing, RNA editing, antisense transcripts and RNA G-quadruplexes), dynamic aspects of RNA regulation modulating physiological homeostasis (aging), role of RNA beyond humans, tools and technologies for RNA research (wet lab and computational) and future prospects for RNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics. One of the core strengths of the book includes spectrum of disease-specific chapters from experts in the field highlighting RNA-based regulation in metabolic & neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, inflammatory disease, viral and bacterial infections. We hope the book helps researchers, students and clinicians appreciate the role of RNA-based regulation in genome regulation, aiding the development of useful biomarkers for prognosis, diagnosis, and novel RNA-based therapeutics. Comprehensive information of non-canonical RNA-based genome regulation modulating human health and disease Defines RNA classes with special emphasis on unexplored world of noncoding RNA at different hierarchies Disease specific role of RNA - causal, prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic Features contributions from leading experts in the field

In recent years, powered by evolving technologies and experimental design, studies have better illuminated the regulating role of proteolytic enzymes across human development and pathologies. Proteolytic Signaling in Health and Disease provides an in-depth discussion of fundamental physiological and developmental processes regulated by proteases, from protein turnover and autophagy to antigen processing and presentation and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Moving on from basic biology, international chapter authors examine a range of pathological conditions associated with proteolysis, including inflammation, wound healing, and cancer. Later chapters discuss the newly discovered network of connected events among proteases (and their inhibitors), the so-called ‘protease web’, and how best to study it. This book also empowers new research with up-to-date analytical methods and step-by-step protocols for studying proteolytic signaling events. Examines biological events triggered by proteolytic enzyme activity across human development and pathologies Discusses the role of proteolytic signaling in inflammation, wound healing, and cancer, among other disease types Features methods and protocols supporting further study of proteolytic signaling events Includes chapter contributions from international leaders in the field

Complex disorders including obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer are results from a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. The prevalence of such disorders has increased dramatically in the last two decades and there is an urgent need for the development of new prognostic tools for the treatment of such diseases. However, this requires a deep understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the occurrence of the diseases. With the advances in high throughput technologies, biological components of cells can be measured with a very high resolution and these data can be used for investigating whole systems properties using a network-based approach. Systems medicine provides an integrative platform for studying the interactions between the biological components of the cell using a holistic approach and generating mechanistic explanations for the emergent systems properties. This inter-disciplinary field of study allows for understanding biological processes of cells in health and disease states, gaining new insights into what drives the appearance of the disease and finally identifying proteins and metabolites implicated in human disease. Systems medicine utilizes mathematical approaches to generate models which can be employed for designing new sets of experiments and for mapping the response of the system to perturbations quantitatively. These models as well as the developed tools can accelerate the emergence of personalized medicine which can transform the practice of medicine and offer better targets for drug development with minimum side effects.

Motivated by the explosion of molecular data on humans-particularly data associated with individual patients-and the sense that there are large, as-yet-untapped opportunities to use this data to improve health outcomes, Toward Precision Medicine explores the feasibility and need for "a new taxonomy of human disease based on molecular biology" and develops a potential framework for creating one. The book says that a new data network that integrates emerging research on the molecular makeup of diseases with clinical data on individual patients could drive the development of a more accurate classification of diseases and ultimately enhance diagnosis and treatment. The "new taxonomy" that emerges would define diseases by their underlying molecular causes and other factors in addition to their traditional physical signs and symptoms. The book adds that the new data network could also improve biomedical research by enabling scientists to access patients' information during treatment while still protecting their rights. This would allow the marriage of molecular research and clinical data at the point of care, as opposed to research information continuing to reside primarily in academia. Toward Precision Medicine notes that moving toward individualized medicine requires that researchers and health care providers have access to very large sets of health- and disease-related data linked to individual patients. These data are also critical for developing the information commons, the knowledge network of disease, and ultimately the new taxonomy.

Aging is a major risk factor for chronic diseases, which in turn can provide information about the aging of a biological system. This publication serves as an introduction to systems biology and its application to biological aging. Key pathways and processes that impinge on aging are reviewed, and how they contribute to health and disease during aging is discussed. The evolution of this situation is analyzed, and the consequences for the study of genetic effects on aging are presented. Epigenetic programming of aging, as a continuation of development, creates an interface between the genome and the environment. New research into the gut microbiome describes how this interface may operate in practice with marked consequences for a variety of disorders. This analysis is bolstered by a view of the aging organism as a whole, with conclusions about the mechanisms underlying resilience of the organism to change, and is expanded with a discussion of circadian rhythms in aging. Finally, the book presents an outlook for the development of interventions to delay or to reverse the features of aging. The publication is recommended to students, researchers as well as professionals dealing with public health and public policy related to an aging society.